Deaths of seal pups discovered by Oceana in Finland linked to natural causes

An analysis showed that the animals died from blows against rocks and drowning during a storm. No sign of parasites, illnesses or human inflicted damage were found on the bodies.

“We are grateful to the governments of Finland and the Åland islands for their quick investigation and transparency into the deaths of these seal pups,” stated Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana Europe and Baltic expedition leader.

Oceana divers discovered dead seals while conducting a 2-month long expedition in the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat to collect data and investigate threats to the Baltic Sea. The information gathered over the course of the expedition will be used to propose Marine Protected Areas and better management measures.